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Different Locations
According
to the majority of scholars, it does not matter if the new moon has
been sighted in a different location. In other words, after the new
moon is seen anywhere in the world, it becomes obligatory for all
Muslims to begin fasting, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be
upon him, said: "Fast due to its sighting and break the fast
due to its sighting." This Hadith is a general address
directed to the whole Muslim Ummah - that is, "if any one of
you sees the moon in any place, then that will be a sighting for
all of the people."
According to `Ikrimah, Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, Salim, Ishaq, the
correct opinion among the Hanafis, and the chosen opinion among the
Shafi`is, every "country" (or territory) is to take into
consideration its own sighting and not necessarily to follow the
sighting of others. This is based on what Kuraib said: "While
I was in Ash-Sham, the new moon of Ramadan appeared on Thursday
night. I returned to Madinah at the end of the month. There, Ibn
`Abbas asked me: 'When did you people see the new moon?' I said:
'We saw it on Thursday night.' He said: 'Did you see it yourself?'
I said: 'Yes, the people saw it, and they and Mu`awiyyyah fasted.'
He said: 'But we saw it on Friday night. We will not stop fasting
until we complete thirty days or until we see the new moon.' I
said: 'Isn't Mu'awiyyah's sighting and fasting sufficient for you?'
He said: 'No . . . This is the order of the Messenger of
Allah.'"
About
the Hadith, At-Tirmidhi says: "It is Hasan Sahih Ghareeb.
Scholars act in accordance with this Hadith. Every land has its
sighting." In Fathul-`Allam Sharh Bulughil-Maram, it is
stated: “The [opinion] closest [to the truth] is that each land
follows its sighting, as well as the areas that are connected to
it."
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